OT: 14 February 1876 - Developing of Phone

Hi,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bell_alexander.shtml
"..
Bell developed his system and submitted his patent on 14 February 1876, 
just two hours before Elisha Gray, seemingly his strongest rival. The 
patent was granted on 7 March, and was possibly the most valuable 
patent ever issued: over 600 law suits followed before a Supreme Court 
decision ruled in Bell's favour in 1893. Developments were swift. 
Within a year the first telephone exchange was built in Connecticut and 
within the decade more than 150,000 people in the US alone owned 
telephones. The Bell Telephone Company was created in 1877, with Bell 
the owner of a third of the 5,000 shares. Stock in the company soared 
from $50 to over $1,000 a share within three years.
.."

Valery